Operating out of the Philippines, under Commander Service Squardon
Ten, the ship was reassigned to Leyte Gulf in the Philippines on May 27,
and arrived there three days later to support the liberation of the Philippines.
The ship remained at Leyte Gulf until the war ended in August 1945, completing
its hazardous tour of duty in the Pacific, issuing & handling many tons
of ammunition, without a single casualty.
Following the formal Japanese surrender on Sep 2, 1945, it was time
to go home. Departing the Philippines in late Oct 1945, the ship headed back
to the States, and anchored at Port Discovery Bay, Puget Sound, WA, on Nov
25, 1945, awaiting further orders.
When further orders arrived 6 months later, the ship was decommissioned
from the Navy at 2:54 pm, on Tuesday May 21, 1946, transferred to the U.S.
Maritime Commission on Jun 12, stricken from the Navy list on July 19, and
placed in temporary storage in the ready fleet reserve until Apr 1947, when
it was reactivated for a short period.
Periods of reactivation & storage followed for the remainder
of its service , with the ship playing a major role transporting military
cargo during the Korean & Vietnam Wars(often operating in dangerous waters
known for piracy), and with humanitarian voyages delivering grain to India
& Pakistan during Nov & Dec 1956, before permanent retirement to
the mothball fleet in Dec 1968. |
lagoon size - 209 sq mi
 |
